Brad Wright Movies
- 1998
In part two of Stargate SG-1's first-season finale, the Stargate project has been determined to be a waste of money and shut down by the government. Still convinced that the Goa'ulds, led by Apophis (Peter Williams), are planning to attack the Earth, the SG-1 team defies orders and passes through the Stargate, prepared to thwart the attack by cutting it off at its source. Hopelessly trapped on a Goa'uld ship, the team members agree to sacrifice themselves for the greater good and set about to destroy the vessel. A slim hope for salvation is aroused when O'Neil (Richard Dean Anderson) discovers that his old friend and comrade in arms, the Abydonian Skaara (Alexis Cruz), is also on board the enemy ship. Alas, Skaara is now the host body of Klorel, son of Apophis -- and as zero hour approaches, it appears that Skaara/Klorel will serve only to seal the Earth's doom. This cliffhanger episode would not be resolved until "The Serpent's Lair," the opening installment of Stargate SG-1's second season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
This opening episode of Stargate SG-1's second season resolves the "cliffhanger" established at the end of Season One. As the earth gears up for an attack from the parasitic Goa'ulds, the SG-1 team, led by Jack O'Neill (Richard Dean Anderson), is still trapped on the Goa'uld war vessel commandeered by Klorel (Alexis Cruz), son of the megalomanic enemy leader Apophis (Peter Williams). The fact that Klorel inhabits the body of Skaara, onetime close friend of O'Neill, makes his villainy all the more intolerable. Realizing that there is no hope for escape, the SG-1 crew prepares to blow up the Goa'uld ship with themselves aboard, rather than allow it to descend upon earth. At a crucial moment, a brief ray of hope is provided by the presence of Bra'tac (Tony Amendola), the mentor of SG-1's Jaffa member Teal'c (Christopher Judge). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Season two of Stargate SG-1 begins with a resolution of the cliffhanger which closed out season one, as SG-1 leader Jack O'Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) is imprisoned on an enemy war vessel as the Earth braces for an attack from those parasitic predators, the Goa'uld. When the dust settles, it seems as though the good guys have scored a clear victory and that Goa'uld leader Apophis (Peter Williams) is dead. The remainder of the season chronicles the aftermath of the attack, and the efforts by the SG-1 team to rescue survivors and set things aright by journeying from one Stargate portal to another throughout the galaxy -- despite the usual roadblocks, setbacks, death traps, false allies, and a variety of "possessions" in which the main characters undergo startling personality changes. Season two's perils include a "virtual-reality" trap which forces the team to relive the worst moments of their lives over and over again; a lengthy imprisonment in the Naquadah mines, where O'Neill and his crew are enslaved for the purpose of replenishing the Goa'uld's energy supply; a return visit to the Norselike planet Cimmeria, which, of course, is also under siege by Goa'uld forces; and the heroic efforts by the team to counteract the effects of a lethal virus they have accidentally unleashed on the universe. Also: O'Neill accidentally absorbs the accumulated advanced knowledge of the Ancients who created Stargate -- and may suffer a literal mental meltdown as a consequence of "knowing too much." Jaffan crew member Teal'c (Christopher Judge) is laid low by the news that his wife Drey'ac (Brook Parker), believing Teal'c dead, has married his best friend -- and worse still, Teal'c's son Rya'c (Neil Denis) has been brainwashed by the villainous (and not as dead as assumed!) Apophis. In the same vein, Daniel Jackson's (Michael Shanks) alien wife Sha're (Vaitiare Bandera) announces she is pregnant with Apophis' child. And back on Earth, an unexpected journey back to the year 1969 finds the SG-1 team proving to be quite a "trip" for a pair of wide-eyed hippies. Other highlights include the two-part "The Tok'ra," in which a Goa'uld resistance movement proves to be a mixed blessing when they are obliged to take human "hosts" to survive, while at the same time SG-1er Samantha Carter (Amanda Tapping) agonizes over the imminent death of her cancer-ridden father Jacob (Carmen Argenziano). And in the season's traditional cliffhanger finale, O'Neill, Carter, and Jackson awaken from 79 years' suspended animation to be told that they're the last survivors of the Stargate team, and that their combined memory banks are sorely needed to continue the fight against the Goa'uld -- but appearances in this case are deceiving. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, (more)
- 1998
The SG-1 team arrives on planet P7J989, where they are immediately plunged into a virtual-reality trap. Over and over again, the team is forced to relive (and attempt to revise) the worst moments of their lives. Controlling this phenomenon is The Keeper (Dwight Schultz), who insists that the V-R exercises have been designed for the amusement of those living in a metallic chamber to protect them from their planet's pollution. But The Keeper is lying like a rug--as the team soon discovers to their horror. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
In this sequel to the 1997 Outer Limits episode "The Camp," the Earth has been colonized by aliens, who have managed to wipe out the human race during a bloody war. The focus is on an alien farm family, who can never leave their property lest they be poisoned by the contamination brought about by the battle against humankind. Thus, the isolated farmers are forced to fend for themselves when their land is attacked by a band of marauding humans. Rene Auberjonois of Star Trek: Deep Space 9 is seen as alien patriarch Dlavan. "Promised Land" first aired on August 21, 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
A gang of "doomsday" cultists have unleashed the synthetic Berlin C virus on the population, killing virtually everyone on earth. Among the handful of survivors is a group of 12 hospital patients who were quarantined before disaster struck. It is now up to the Center for Disease Control to decide who will be given the last available supply of anti-virus vaccine -- and there is only enough for three of the patients. "The Vaccine" originally aired on April 3, 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
With the earth's atmosphere facing destruction, NASA scientist Miles Davidow (C. Thomas Howell) manages to find a method of survival by merging his own DNA with a mysterious life form on the planet Venus. At first, the Venusian influence bestows remarkable recuperative powers on Davidow's body. Eventually, however, the terrible side effects of the "treatment" threatens the life of every person whom Davidow truly cares about. "The Joining" first aired on April 17, 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
The SG-1 team is convinced that their comrade Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks) was burned to death during an escape from the planet Oannes. In truth, Jackson is still alive and a captive of the amphibious humanoid Nem (Gerald Plunkett). Playing for time, Jackson agrees to help Nem locate his partner Omorca, who lived on earth during the Babylonian era. As Jackson and Nem discover that they have more in common than might be suspected, Jackson's earthbound team members, who are now not so certain that Daniel is dead, undergo hypnosis in hopes of retracing the events leading up to their cohort's "demise." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
In the conclusion of Stargate SG-1's opening episode, Jack O'Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) and his SG-1 team have located scientist Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks), discoverer of the ancient Stargate technology enabling Earth to contact other solar systems. Jackson, who has proof that other Stargates exist throughout the galaxy, has for the last year been living on the planet Abydos with his alien wife, Sha're (Vaitare Bandera), and her brother, Skaara (Alexis Cruz). Sha're is kidnapped by the evil Egyptian god Apophis (Peter Williams), who hopes to use the Stargates to take over the universe with the help of the Goa'ulds, parasitic snake creatures who need humans as host bodies. Newly relocated to the planet Chulak, Apophis rules the populace with Sha're (her body taken over by Goa'ulds) as his queen. Though they cannot rescue Sha're, the SG-1 team hope to save themselves and Skaara, so that they can continue thwarting Apophis throughout the universe. In this pursuit, they find an unexpected ally in the form of Teal'c (Christopher Judge), a Jaffa soldier in Apophis' army who carries a larval Goa'uld in his own belly. Originally telecast as a two-hour episode, "Children of the Gods" has since been divided into two hour-long installments for syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Called back to active duty by Gen. George Hammond (Don S. Davis), Col. Jack O'Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) emerges from the retirement he'd imposed on himself after vanquishing Ra, despotic leader of the hideous Goa'uld race, in the "alternate universe" planet Abydos. Word has reached Hammond, head of the top-secret Stargate project, that O'Neill's former associate Dr. David Jackson (Michael Shanks), who'd discovered that the universe is festooned with Stargate "portals" enabling alien civilizations to pass from one plane of reality to another and back again, and who'd evidently perished during the battle with Ra, may still be alive. Blasting off from Stargate Command's headquarters in the Air Force's Cheyenne Mountain Complex, where the Earth's Stargate is located and carefully guarded, O'Neill and his Stargate 1 team, including scientist Samantha Carter (Amanda Tapping) manage to cross over into Abydos and rescue Jackson from Ra's vicious successor Apophis (Peter Williams). Armed with a map drawn up by Jackson, the SG-1 personnel dedicate themselves to journeying to as many Stargates in the galaxy as possible, the better to protect a variety of alien races from hostile invasion. And thus begins the first season of the enormously popular cable sci-fi series Stargate SG-1. Before long, O'Neill et al. have taken on a new ally, Jaffa soldier Teal'c (Christopher Judge), who refuses to fall in line with his people and blindly accept the Goa'uld as gods. Though Teal'c seems to be trustworthy, the rest of the crew cannot forget that he, like all Jaffan males, carries a larval Goa'uld in his stomach. The SG-1's intergalactic perambulations brings the team in contact with the Shavadi warriors on the planet Simarka; with planet P3X797, where a strict caste system is determined by who lives on the "dark" and "light" side of the plane; and with Samantha Carter's former lover (played by William Russ), who rules Kurtzlike as a god on a faraway planet. In one startling episode the entire crew is actually killed by the predatory Apophis, only to be brought back to life by the invisible Fenri race. Elsewhere, O'Neill undergoes an accelerated aging process on the planet Argos; the crew uncovers disturbing evidence of Stargate activation as far back as 1945 -- but they may never live to tell about it; SG-1 takes the first of many trips to the Planet Cimmeria, ruled by Holographic Norse deities; Teal'c tries to save his son Rya'c (Neil Denis) from being inseminated with a Goa'uld larva; Samantha bonds with a little girl who may have to be killed before she can destroy all humankind, and later Sam and O'Neill are marooned on a frozen planet where she is forced to assume command; and Dr. Jackson is whisked into an alternate reality where all the familiar characters undergo radical changes of personality. Season one ends as all subsequent seasons will, with a cliffhanger that will remain unresolved until the beginning of the next season. In this case, Jackson must alert the team of his foreknowledge that Earth is due for an attack by the Goa'uld -- just as the Stargate Project's funding is slashed to the bone by an anti-military politician. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, (more)
- 1997
For nearly 250 years, the alien New Masters have kept the human population of earth penned up in concentration camps. The rulers are aided and abetted by a handful of human "quislings" who have sold out their own kind. All of this may change dramatically when one of the inmates, a woman known only as Prisoner 98843 (Harley Jane Kozak), begins to nurture dreams of rebellion -- and also, to wonder if her captors are as indomitable as they seem to be. Originally telecast on February 21, 1997, "The Camp" was so well received that the episode warranted a sequel, 1998's "Promised Land." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
The first episode of the TV series Stargate SG-1 takes place one year after the events in the 1994 Stargate theatrical feature. After quickly establishing that the Stargate portal was developed by an ancient Earth civilization in order to contact other solar systems, the focus of the story shifts to Col. Jack O'Neil (Richard Dean Anderson), who has been in retirement ever since defeating the megalomaniac Ra on the planet Abydos. Restored to active duty by General Hammond (Don Davis), who is now in charge of Earth's Stargate Project, O'Neil is instructed to rescue scientist Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks), who may have survived the destruction of Abydos' Stargate. Assembling an exploratory team including his old comrades Kawalsky (Jay Acovone) and Ferretti (Brent Stait), as well as astrophysicist Samantha Carter (Amanda Tapping), O'Neill manages to locate Jackson, who has found a huge cartouche in hieroglyphics, indicating that there are thousands of Stargates throughout the galaxy. The trick now is to hide this valuable information from the evil Apophis (Peter Williams), a revived mythological Egyptian god who intends to use the Stargate technology to take over the universe. Originally telecast as a two-hour episode, "Children of the Gods" has since been divided into two hour-long installments for syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Having successfully escaped the parasitic Goa'ulds, the SG-1 team returns to earth. Along for the ride is O'Neill's (Richard Dean Anderson) new ally, the Jaffa Teal'c (Christopher Judge)--who, though he carries a larval Goa'uld in his belly, has renounced the parasites and their megalomaniac ruler Apophis. But O'Neill's superior officer Gen. Hammond (Don S. Davis) does not trust Teal'c and orders him to steer clear of SG-1. As it turns out, however, Teal'c may be the only one able to save O'Neill's comrade Kalwalsky (Jay Avocone), who has been infected by alien larvae--and who may have to be killed to prevent the larvae from passing through the Stargate. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Based on a short story by Stephen King, this Outer Limits episode stars Catherine O'Hara as Becca Paulson, a frowsy, none-too-bright housewife living in a rundown trailer park. Accidentally shooting herself in the head, Becca manages to survive her wounds, but not without a few curious side effects. The story really shifts into gear when Becca begins conversing with a handsome stranger -- who happens to exist only as an image in an 8 x 10 photo frame. "The Revelations of 'Becca Paulson" was first telecast on June 6, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steven Weber
- 1996
Armed with the knowledge that the sun will soon become a supernova, shy physics professor Stanley Hearst (Michael Gross) resigns himself to the fact that mankind is doomed. In the time he has left, Stanley is determined to declare his love for Leslie (Joanna Gleason), the woman he has long worshipped from afar. Of course, Stanley sees no need to tell Leslie that the world is coming to an end -- and she, in blissful ignorance, becomes fascinated by her new "Romeo." Based on a story by Larry Niven, "Inconstant Moon" originally aired on April 12, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Robert Foxworth stars as Charles Halsey, newly inaugurated President of the United States. No sooner has Halsey taken office than he faces his first crisis: a fleet of alien spaceships is rapidly approaching earth. Having been elected on the basis of his pacifist views, will President Halsey rise to the challenge -- if indeed the challenge is truly what it appears to be? Originally telecast on March 1, 1996, "Trial by Fire" has since taken on a disturbing immediacy in the light of the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
In this sequel to the first season Outer Limits episode "Quality of Mercy," Robert Patrick returns in the role of Major John Skokes. Having been liberated from an extraterrestial POW camp, Skokes is now one of three space-combat survivors on a disabled battle cruiser. Like his fellow combatants, a veteran Chief Weapons Officer (Graham Greene) and an inexperienced young cadet (Wil Wheaton), Skokes has been exposed to a deadly dose of radiation. As the trio fights off their inevitable deaths, they prepare to mount a counteroffensive that may or may not save the Earth from a devastating alien invasion. "The Light Brigade" originally aired on June 23, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Future X-Files regular Robert Patrick stars as Maj. John Skokes, an officer who is taken prisoner during a vicious intergalactic war. Skokes' alien captors throw him into a cell with another human warrior, Bree Tristan (Nikki De Boer). It soon develops that Bree is the subject of an experiment to transform her into an alien. Despite Bree's hopelessness, Skokes promises that they both will "escape" -- but not in the usual manner. First telecast on June 16, 1995, "Quality of Mercy" proved popular enough to warrant a sequel, the 1996 Outer Limits episode "The Light Brigade." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
The first season of the "new" Outer Limits ended on August 20, 1995, with the episode titled "Voice of Reason." Gordon Clapp stars as Randal Strong, a civilian who arranges a high-level Pentagon meeting in hopes of uncovering a vast government conspiracy. Unfortunately, despite the most persuasive of evidence, Strong is unable to convince the Pentagon higher-ups. Or could it be that they already know of the conspiracy, and don't want anyone else to know? Strong's "testimony" is presented in the form of excerpts from the previous Outer Limits episodes "The Sandkings," "The Voyage Home," "Caught in the Act," "If Walls Could Talk," "The New Breed," "Corner of the Eye," and "Birthright." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Idealistic pharmaceutical scientist Spencer Deighton (Charles Martin Smith) discovers a miraculous vaccine with the potential to make human beings immortal. This is great news for Spencer's brother, Michael (Michael Kemp), a coldblooded, mercenary business executive. The inevitable clash of ethics and morals between Spencer and Michael culminates in treachery, murder and a wickedly ironic twist. "Blood Brothers" originally aired on April 7, 1995. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin stars as Jennifer Winter, the subject of a miraculous medical experiment. Deaf since birth, Jennifer is given an ear implant which will ostensibly allow her to hear voices for the first time. Evidently, the device is far from perfect; Jennifer is still unable to hear conversations, but she does pick up some very, very strange whispering sounds. Its title explained in the final moments of the episode, "The Message" was first broadcast on July 16, 1995. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
After committing a triple murder, Frank Whaley (Henry Marshall), an unrepentant white collar criminal, escapes to the mountains. Frank meets Lucas (John Savage), who claims he can foretell the future. Truth be told, Lucas knows that there is inherent good in the seemingly irredeemable Frank -- but to prove this, someone will have to pay a terrible price. Directed by actress Rebecca DeMornay, who appears in a spectral supporting role, "The Conversion" was based upon Two Strangers, a short story by Richard B. Lewis. This episode first aired on June 9, 1995. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
In the first episode of a two-part story, renegade Watcher James Horton (Peter Hudson) plots to destroy the friendship between Duncan (Adrian Paul) and Richie (Stan Kirsch). Crucial to the evil scheme is Horton's murderous mentoring of escaped criminal Lisa Halle (played by Meilani Paul, the then-wife of series star Adrian Paul). Things come to a head when Pete Wilder (Martin Cummins), the man who saved Richie's life, is killed -- and it looks as though Duncan is responsible. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adrian Paul, Stan Kirsch, (more)
